It has been a wild ride in college football since we last sawAuburn’s Michael Dyer’s highlight-reel run to set up his team’s22-19 win over Oregon in the BCS Championship game last January.Let’s see now.
Nebraska? They’re in the Big Ten which will have a title game.Colorado, Utah? Pac-12 for them. BYU? Independent. Texas A&M?Breaking up with the Big 12 just before starting its season onSunday against SMU, once the poster child for all that could gowrong in college football. The Mustangs still haven’t recoveredfrom the Death Penalty levied by the NCAA for its problems in the’80s.
Now, that punishment is being talked about again after the YahooSports revelations about Miami and booster Nevin Shapiro. Thosecharges dwarfed the Ohio State scandal, which led to coach JimTressel’s resignation and Terrell Pryor’s move to the NFL. so nowit’s time for some football, and what better way than a five-dayweekend of action that started Thursday night. and what better wayto showcase the game than a match between no. 3 Oregon and no. 4LSU. Pac-12 vs. SEC. The Ducks out to show they are no one-timewonders. LSU o 7;t to show Les Miles has learned clock management.all in the opulence of Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. But wait. Bothschools are under the microscope for payments made to Will Lylesand his scouting service, which just happened to direct players toboth. and then LSU is without starting QB Jordan Jefferson,suspended after his arrest in connection with a bar fight. so, theproblems remain but at least the games and the BCS argumentsbegin.
A familiar name at ND
Skip Holtz makes his return to South Bend, but not as the Irishcoach. Instead, the Notre Dame graduate, former Irish assistant andthe son of Lou, the last coach to win a national title at NotreDame, is bringing his South Florida team to test the Irish, whoshowed some signs of life last year under coach Brian Kelly. IfNotre Dame is indeed a BCS contender, it should be able to handleUSF’s offense on its home field. Big East teams have given NotreDame trouble in recent years; the Irish’s victory over Pittsburghlast season ended a four-game losing streak to the league. Maybethat’s why the Irish are keen on staying independent infootball.
if you could see us now …
Perhaps no team went through more off-season changes than Texas.New coordinators, new coaches, new focus. all because of a 5-7season. But after a summer full of mystery, Garret Gilbert is stillthe QB. it would be nice to say you could see his progress whenTexas opens against Rice. But the game is being aired on theLonghorn Network, which hasn’t found that many carriers yet. so,we’ll just have to read the recap on Sunday to see if Texas isback, or not.
Playing the big boys
Boise State is doing it again: taking on one of the big boys tostart the season. two years ago it was Oregon that was the victim.last year, it was Virginia Tech. now, it’s Georgia. Since losing tothe Dawgs in 2002 by the score of 48-13, Boise State has won atleast 10 games a year and been to two BCS games. Georgia has beento only one and is coming off its first losing season in 14 years.Coach Mark Richt’s job security may depend on Georgia contending inthe SEC East, and the Dawgs have questions at tailback, widereceiver and in the offensive line. Losing to Boise State would notbe the way to start.
Hurricane warning
Forget the Monday Night Football jokes when Miami takes onMaryland in its opener under a cloud of scandal and a new coach inAl Golden. Seven potential starters have been suspended at leastfor the opener, including QB Jacory Harris. The team likely willrely heavily on TB Lamar Miller, who had two 100-yard games latelast season, and a big, experienced offensive line. Maryland went9-4 last season behind redshirt freshman QB Danny O’Brien, thenfired coach Ralph Friedgen. Few new coaches would want to maketheir conference debut in a game against Miami, but Randy Edsallwho led Connecticut to a BCS berth last season â€" looks to havecaught a break here.
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